Gladys Knight is scaling back her live performances after more than seven decades in the music industry, saying she is ready to devote more time to her family and personal projects.
The 82-year-old, seven-time Grammy Award winner announced the decision in a statement shared on Instagram, describing it as a transition into a new chapter rather than an outright retirement. “After much soul searching I’ve decided that I will be easing into fewer performances while focusing on transitioning into the next stage of my career and life moving forward,” Knight wrote. She said the change will allow her to work more closely with her husband, William McDowell, and spend additional time with her grandchildren. “I’ll be spending more time on projects with my husband and visiting with my grandbabies and am looking forward to this new era,” she said. She also thanked fans for supporting her throughout a career that began when she was a child and included decades of recordings, touring and performances with the Pips.
Knight’s announcement comes as concern has grown over her recent appearances onstage. Videos and reports from several concerts have prompted questions about her well-being, including an incident during a July performance at the Hollywood Bowl in which she appeared to lose her place during “Midnight Train to Georgia” and briefly moved toward the exit. At an August performance in Detroit, she reportedly appeared fatigued and took several breaks. Some tour personnel have reportedly raised concerns about whether she should continue traveling and performing at her current pace.
Knight’s husband and manager has disputed speculation that she has been diagnosed with dementia. McDowell has acknowledged that she has good and bad days and said she is expected to undergo a medical evaluation. He has also indicated that her remaining performance schedule could be reconsidered depending on how she handles upcoming shows. Knight previously rejected claims from her son, Shanga Hankerson, concerning her health and the demands of her touring schedule, with her representatives saying those allegations misrepresented her condition.
Knight’s decision represents a significant change for an artist whose career has stretched across roughly 75 years and produced enduring hits including “Midnight Train to Georgia” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” While she is reducing the number of times she takes the stage, her statement does not indicate that she is permanently retiring. Instead, Knight said she is looking toward the future with gratitude, telling fans, “I am immensely grateful to all of you and send my eternal love back to you.”
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